Wutip now a super typhoon

Typhoon Wutip is now a super typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour (249.5 kilometers per hour).

Based on information received from the National Weather Service in Tiyan, Guam, and compiled at the CNMI Emergency Operations Center-State Warning Point, a tropical storm warning remains in effect for Guam and Rota.

A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for Tinian, Saipan, Pagan and Agrihan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

As of 1am today, Feb. 24, 2019, Super Typhoon Wutip was about about 170 miles west-southwest of Guam, about 225 miles southwest of Rota, about 280 miles southwest of Tinian, about 290 miles southwest of Saipan, about 460 miles south-southwest of Pagan, and about 495 miles south-southwest of Agrihan. It is moving northwest at 8 mph.

It is expected to continue to the northwest through Monday morning before turning to the north-northwest and north. Super Typhoon Wutip will continue to slow down in forward motion through Monday morning and the slow motion will persist through Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to 155 mph. Wutip is a powerful Category 4 super typhoon. Additional intensification is expected this morning with Wutip hitting its peak intensity around midday, possibly as a Category 5 super typhoon.

Gradual weakening is expected starting tonight continuing into late week as Wutip moves
into the Philippine sea.

Typhoon force winds extend outward from the center up to 50 miles. Tropical storm force winds extend outward from the center up to 190 miles to the north and up to 155 miles to the south.

Because of the continued threat of typhoon Wutip, acting governor Arnold I. Palacios maintains Tropical Storm Condition 2 on Rota. This means that damaging winds of 39-73 mph are expected within 24 hours; and Tropical Storm Condition 3 on Saipan, Tinian, Pagan, and Agrihan. This means that damaging winds of 39-73 mph are possible within 48 hours.

The CNMI Emergency Operations Center State Warning Point will be monitoring the movement of Super Typhoon Wutip and will be issuing out bulletins as they become available. Keep a close watch on updates to weather forecasts and stay informed on the latest statements and advisories which will be available through local media sources and NOAA weather radio broadcast on 162.5 megahertz, or call the CNMI EOC State Warning Point at 237-8000 or 664-8000, and for the northern islands to contact the CNMI EOC State Warning Point at high frequency single side band radio on frequency 5.205.0. (EOC)